New Toolkit for Mycotoxin Risk Assessment now validated for use in Africa

Mycotoxins — toxic substances from fungi — are a hidden threat in staple foods like maize and groundnuts, particularly in low-income settings. With climate, storage, and regulatory challenges amplifying risks, effective tools are essential for safeguarding health. Thanks to the EU-funded UP-RISE project, a practical Risk Assessment Toolkit has been successfully validated for use in African countries.
The Toolkit for risk assessment was initially developed by the FoodSafety4EU project and released as a Key Exploitable Result, including the methodology and how to apply it in practice. The toolkit comprises two separate Excel documents: one standard format for chemical data collection and one calculation spreadsheet for risk assessment.
The new validated tool has been tested in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, it’s already proving effective in assessing aflatoxin B1 in maize.
It is now being extended to four other mycotoxins, and will be scaled up for the adoption across AU member states. Its adoption will contribute to enhance local assessors and stakeholders’ competences through training and to foster EU-Africa partnerships for food safety policy innovation.

The toolkit offers:

• Reliable data integration on mycotoxin occurrence and dietary patterns
• Evidence-based insights for long-term health risk assessment
• Guidance for national mitigation strategies and food safety programs

📬 Learn more here: or get involved: up-rise@ugent.be